Air-conditioning apparatus



March 18, 1930. A T LEWls ET AL AIRl CONDITIONING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l0; 1927 March 18, 1930. A. T. LEWIS ET Al- AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May I0, 1927 5' Sheets-Shea?l 2 v.. attua/m1,

March 18, 1930. A. T. LEWIS ET Al- AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIII- y atroz/mg Patented Mar. 18,1930 l i murenN dIsrares ALEXANDER THORNTON LEWIS, or MEnIoN, HARRIS TAUL xeANT, or PH- D'ELPHLA, AND ROBERT nYLANn TALIAEEHHO, or BEEcHwoon-PARH, PENNSYL- vANTA, AssIGrNonsA To YORK HEATING AND VENTILATING CORPORATION, or PHILADELPHIA,l PENNSYLVANIA, A COEPORATIONOE rENNsYLvANTA Application med may 1o,

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the condition of the air in buildings and more particularly to individual units for the respective rooms of a building. j

In air conditioning-apparatus heretofore in use, the general practlce, as well as the only known successful manner-of control has been to construct,usually as a partof the heating plant for the building, a complete air conditioning installation designed and arranged to automatically take care of the air requirements as to cleansing and humidity for the building, that is to say, all the rooms of the buildings were supplied with air which initially traversed and was treated by the single relatively large and expensive air conditioning apparatus. rlhis apparatus as installed was designed to perform one particular function, namely, that of either a humidier, or a de-humidier or an air washer, though. of course, at great expense it could be reconstructed to the new function if desired.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to providev an improved air condi-l tioning apparatus; to provide an apparatus whereby the air in the several. rooms of a' building is subject to independent control so that the humidity condition can be diderent in all the rooms. or alike in some rooms and di'erent in others, Or any desired'arrangement can be obtained; to provide an improved air conditioning apparatus which can be used at will for either humidifying or dehumidiying the air in a room; to provide a humidil ying apparatus capable of producing one hundred per cent saturation of the air lto provide an air conditioning apparatus arranged to automatically maintain a predetermlned humidity condition of the air in a room; to

provide an air heater and conditioning apparatus arranged as a complete operable unit which is so constructed that both parts coopcrate to a common end, or, if desired, one part can be operated without the other; to provide a unitary apparatus for heating and condi-v tioning air having a removable Water receptacle or tank for hnmidifying purposes; to provide an air heating and conditioning unit hereinafter appear.

1927. serial No. 190,312.

for use in one room only of a building; to provide a self' contained air washer, removable tank, and a self contained humidifying or dehumidiying unit; to lprovide a unitary hu' midifying apparatus wherein the humidity condition of the air in a room is controlled by `the temperature of the collected water'in the apparatus as distinguished from control by the temperature of the humidifying spray; and to provide other improvements as Wi 1n the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of an air condition-` ing apparatus -embodying one form ot the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig.l v1; Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation of a modified form of the apparatus and Fig. 5 vrepresents a detail of a modified orm'o automatic temperature control. V

Referring to the drawings one formv of the present invention comprises an air conditioning apparatus arranged as a complete con trol unit embodying an air heater apparatus 11, an air conditioning apparatus 12, and an .air'circulating mechanism including air inlets 13, fans 14 and air discharge outlets 15. ln `the preferred arrangement the air heater apparatus 11 is mounted upon the humidifier apparatus 12 and in turn the discharge outlets 15 are mounted upon the heater apparatus 11, though within certain limitations the arrangement can be varied without de parting trom 'the scope of the invention.

The air heater apparatus 11 consists of heating coils 16 arranged in certain staggered relation in the path of a moving colu of air passing from bottom to top ot a casing 17 which encloses the coils 16. Preferably this casing 17 is of generally rectangular shape .closed on sides and endsbut open at its lootuse tom while its top is closed by a cover plate 18 i mounting theplurality of discharge outlets 15. rlhe heating coils 16 are supplied with a heating medium such as exhaust steam by a supply header 20 and the return is made by wav of a header 21. The fansld serve to draw air through the casing 17 and discharge it by way of the outldd lets 15 to the room to be heated, and in this particular unit there are four such fans mounted upon a common shaft 22 which projects from one end of the' casing 17 for connection to an electric motor 23 for driving purposes. For convenience this motor 23 is mounted upon a bracket 24 attached to the casing 17.

For the purpose of conditioning the air, the casing 17 is mounted upon a skeletonl frame 25, preferably of angle iron type and preferq Athe tank is removable and can -be taken out through a side of the frame 25. When the tank 26 is in assembled position in the frame 25 its open top forms a communication between the inside of the tank 26 and the outside air by way of the inlets 13. For operating purposes the tank 26 is filled to a predetermined level with water which is used for conditioning the air which is to pass through the heater casing 17 and thence to the room.

In order to bring this water into contact with the air entering by way of the inlets 13, a pump27, preferably of the rotary type, is. mounted at a convenient place with its suction pipe 28 leading to a point adjacent the bottom of the tank 26. As here shown, the

ump 27 is mounted upon a bracket 30 at one end of the tank and is driven by an electric motor 31 as will be understood. The suction pipe 28 preferably includes a strainer 32 to iilter sediment and the like tending to clog the supply line `or damage the pump. An overflow 33 is located at a predetermined liquid level and establishes communication with thedrain pipe 34 beyond the drain control valve 35. Preferably also the water is automatically replenished by a supply line 36 Y which is controlled by a float 37 and valve 38.

The discharge pipe 40 from the pump 27 leads to a water heater 41 of the closed tank type havinga heating c-oil 42 therein supplied with steam by a supply pipe 43 and having a return pipe 44, as will be understood. Ther water entering the heater 41 from pipe 40 preferably circulates' about the heated coils 42 and discharges b 'way of pipe 45, which leads downward'and1 terminates opposite the top portion of the tank 26 ina plurality of pipes 46 provided with spray nozzles 47. These spray pipes 46 andnozzles '47 extend transversely lengthwise ofthe tank 26 in such positions as-to subject the entering-air to a thorough 'treatment' by the waterv sprayed from the aforesaid pipes 46 beforev it enters the heating chamber 11. In the present arrangement two of the pipes 46 are located in the path of the air entering through the inlets 13 while the third pipe 46 is located between' two bale plates 48 are supported within the 'v tank 26 to form partitions between the respective air inlets 13 and the bottom opening of the casing 17 These plates 48 terminate above the level of the water in the tank'26 so that the air enters the tank 26 at two opposite sides is drawn down the'outer sides of the baiie plates 48 and then the two air currents meetand pass upward through the common central passage, being at all times in intimate contact with the 'water sprayed irst in the same direction and then counter to its travel. Thus when the free edges'ot` the baiile plates 48 is reached the air is caused to reverse its A direction and travels v upward into and through the heater casing 17 ordischarge to the room by the outlets 15. It will be noticed that not only does the air have a greatly increased path of travel by reason of the baiiie plates-48, but b first traveling with the water spray, and t en in a direction against slch spray the degree of humidity can'be raised to the point of one hundred per cent saturation if necessary or desirable.

' For the purpose of automatically regulating the degree of saturation, the temperature of the water sprayed into the entering air,

may be controlled by any one of a number ofl control devices. In Fig. 3 one type of control is shown employing a valve 50 of the solenoid `operated type 51, wherein the circuit 52 for the" electrical control' leads to a hydrostatic velement 53, which is placed at a` convenient point in the room. The valve 50 is located on the steam line 43, leadiiigto the water heater v and the amount of steam passing through the coil .42 is' thus directly controlled by the humidity of the room air, In Fig. 4, another type of automatic control is illustrated wherein a valve 54 is' loca-ted in the steam line 43 leading to the water heater and this valve is opened and closed mechanically by the expansion and contraction of a sylphon thermostatic 55. locatedY in submerged relation in the water of the tank 26 and operating through a tube 56 `which connects with the valve 54 and eausesoperation thereof. lVith either of these automatic controls, the system functions automaticallv and if theater temperature rises above the predetermined working temnerature,the actionof the thermostatic control is to cut down the supplyA of steam to the water heater 41, and thereby cause the temperature of the spray water to lowera gain to the selected or working temperature. Should the temperature of the water in the tank 104 fall below the predetermined worki ing temperature, then the thermostatic elements bring about the opposite effect and in-A crease the amount of steam supplied to the water heater in order to raise the temperature of the spray Water. l

For the purpose of automatically main- `taining a substantially constant room temperature, an automatrc control is provided other form of automatic room temperature control is shown wherein a mechanically controlled valve 62 is located in the steam line 58 tothe coils 16, and is arranged to be operated through connection with a sylphon thermostat 63 located in the room the temperature of which is to be automatically maintained at apredetermined degree of heat.

In the form ofl the invention shown f in Fig. 4 the relative arrangement of the air heater and the conditioning apparatus is changed and the former is positioned upon the rear portion of the frame 25 so as to provide a single air inlet 64 at one side only of the casing 17 tor delivering air to the tank 26. In this construction one bale plate 65 is used to form a down passage 66 for air at one side ofthe tank and an up passage 67 at the other side of the tank 26. rl`he two passages 66 and 67 each have one of the vspray pipes 46 arranged to discharge therein so that the air passing down the passage 66 moves with the spray, but when passing up the passage 67 travels against the spray.

1n both the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 4, it is desirable to provide for the removal of extraneous Water carried along with the air and to that end irregular shaped batlles 68 are mounted acrossthe inlet to the heater casing 17 to intercept the column of moving air and cause it to alter its path so that tree water is separated and falls back into the tank while the saturated air continues its travel.

For the purpose of iltering the spray water and preventing separated particles ot dust, lint and the like from becoming a water soaked mass which would clog the inlet to the pump line, a screen plate 70 of relatively tine mesh is removably supported upon brackets 71 and a centrally supported rib 72 so' that it lies just above the normal water level in the tank 26. Preferably this plate 70 is made in sections so that it can bereadily taken out for cleaning and then replaced. In this way sediment,'dust and other foreign matter in the air collects upon the top surface of the screen plate 70 and no way can interfere with the proper circulation of the water.

For cleaning, inspection and repair purposes the tank 26 is provided with aodoor 7 3 which is normally closed and sealed against leakage by any well known packing means but can be opened Whenever access to the interior ofthe tank is desired or necessary.

ln the operation of the apparatus as a heating and humidifying'unit the tank26 is supplied with' Water to a level of some four or five inches, or any suitable depth for that matter, and steam is admitted to theY heating coi1s116 and also to the coil 42 of the water heater and upon starting the fans. 14 the apparatus is ready to function. The water pump 27 now circulates Water 'from the tank 26 through' the Water heater 41 and discharges it through the spray 47 so that the air enter ing through the inlets 13 is caused to pass through the water spray and absorb moisture therefrom. Since the collected water in the tank 26 has a thermostatic element submerged in it the temperature of this Water becomes a direct control for the steam supplied to water heater coils 4 2 and in this way provides for control ot the water spray. ln this way a predetermined constant water temperature can be maintained for the spray water and the desired amount ot saturation be obtained for the air delivered to the room or rooms. ile the humidity/ing vunit is relatively compact and ot simple construction, it nevertheless functions in aI highly ecient manner because the air passes through it in a relatively long path and this path is first in one direction following the course ofspray and then in another direction directly counter to the course ot the spray and hence the range of saturation control can be had from minimum to maximum. As the air with its predetermined degree of saturation leaves the tank 276 it passes through the separating baes 68 in order that free particles of moisture can be removed and returned to the tank 26. ile the temperature ot the collected water in the tank 26 is taken as a control tor the conditioning water there is also a control tor the temperature of the air discharged from-the outlets-15 and this latter control is brought about by automatic devices suchl as a thermostat-ic element located in the room the temperature of which is to be controlled, and'unctioning to regulate the quantity of steam supplied to the heating coils 16.

'Where the apparatus is ltrbe used for dehumidifying the air no structural change l in the apparatus is required because it is only necessary to shut tid-the .steam te the wmater heater 41 and allowcold `Water to circulate to the pipes 46 and thence be discharged by way of the sprays 47 1t 'will now be apparent that acomplete unitary air conditioning apparatus has been .ing a body of water,.a heater casing mounted on said frame and arranged to leave free access ,for air to enter said tank, heating coils in said casing, means to introduce a water spray into said tank in the path of said air,

'and autmatic means to maintain the teml perature of said spray substantially constant.

2. An air lconditioning apparatus comprising a frame, an open top tank removably mounted in said frame, a "heater casing mounted on said frame to leave free access for air to enter said tank, heating coils in said casing, means to introduce a water spray intoA said tank in 'the path of-said air, and a strainer interposed between the entering air and the level of the collected .water in said tank and covering substantially the full water area surface. j

3. A n airconditioning apparatus comprising in combination an air heater, a water spray chamber, water spray apparatus located in said spray chamber, vand means for causing air to travel in contact with and in the direction of travel of the Water spray and then travel in contact with and counter tothe travel of the water spray.

4. An air conditioning apparatus 'compris-I ing in combinationan air heater, a water spray chamber, water spray apparatus lo-Y cated in said spray chamber, means for causing air to travel in contact with and in the direct-ion of travel of the water spray .and then travel in contact with and counter to the travel of the water spray, a heater for said spray water, anda temperature control vdevice for automatically controlling said water heater.

5. An air conditioning apparatus comprising' in combination van air heater, a water spraychamber, Water spray apparatus located in said spray chamber, means for causing air to travel in contact with and in the f direction of travel of the water spray and then travel in contact with and counter to the travel of the water spray, and a temperature control device for automatically controlling said air heater.

6. An air conditioning apparatus ing in combination an air heater, a .water spray chamber, water spray apparatus located in saidv spray chamber, means .for causcompris- 7. An air conditioningapparatus comprising in combination an air heater, a water spray chamber, water spray apparatus located in said spray chamber, means for causing air to4 travel in contact with and in the direction of travel' of the ywater spray and then 'travel in 'contact with and counter vto the travel of the waterF spray, and means including a thermostatic element located in the zone to be controlled for automatically controlling said air heater.

8. An air conditioning apparatus comprising avertically arranged self-contained air 'heater and water spray chamber, an apparatus for spraying 4water vertically in said chamber, means to cause air to pass through said chamber and said heater, and means for causing said air to travel in contact with said Water in the direc-tion of travel of said water and also in contact with said water in a direction opposite to the travel of said Water.

9. An air conditioning apparatus compris- -ing a vertically arranged self-contained water spray chamberand' a superposedv air heater communicating with said chamber, a device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom thereof, means to cause air to pass successively through said chamber and through said air heater, and means to direct said air towards the bottom of said chamber and then towards the top of said chamber whereby the air moves at one time with thev Water Spray and at the other time counter to said water spray.

10. An air conditioning apparatus comprising` a vertically larranged self-contained waterspray chamber and a superposed air heater communicating with said chamber, a device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom thereof, means to cause air to pass successively through said chamber and through said air heater, means to direct said air towards the bottom of said chamber and then towards the topV of said chamber whereby the air moves at one time with the water spray and at the other time counter to said water spray, and means for automatically controlling the humidity of said air.

11. An air conditioning apparatus .comprising ya vertically arranged self-contained Water spray chamber and a superposed air heater communicating with said chambena device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom thereof, mea/ns to cause air to pass successively through said chamber' and through saidv air heater, means to direct said'air towards the bottom of said chamber v sively t spray.

and then towards the top of said chamber whereby the air moves at one time with the water spray and at the other time counter to said water spray, and means for automatically controlling the temperature of said air.

12. A self-contained air washing, cleaning and heating apparatus comprising in com: bination an air heater, a water spray chamber, means'for causing air to pass successively and vertically through said chamber and through said air heater, and means for spraying water in sai-d chamber in the direction of travel of said air.

13. A self-contained air washing, cleaning and heating apparatus comprising in combination an air heater, a water spray chamber, means for causing air to pass successively and vertically through said chamber and through said air heater, and -means for spraying water vertically in said chamber and counter to the direction of travel of said air.

14. A self-contained air washing, cleaning and heating apparatus comprising in combination an air heater,vmeans for causing air water vertically in said chamber, and means for causing air to travel through said chamber in contact and in the direction of travel of said water and also in contact with but op osite to the travel of said water.

Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 28th day of April, 1927.

ALEXANDER THORNTON LEWIS. HARRIS PAUL GANT. ROBERT RYLAND lTALIAFERRG..

to pass successively and vertically through said chamber and through said air heater,

means for spraying water in said chamber in the direction of travel of said air, and a removable tank constituting a water spray chamber and holding a body of water exposed to the travelling air.

15. An air' conditioning apparatus comprisinga self-contained Water spray chamber and a superposed air heater communicating with said chamber, a device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom thereof means to cause air to pass succeshrough said chamber and through said air heater, and means to direct said air towards the bottom of said chamber and then towards the top of said chamber whereby the air moves at one time with the water spray and at the other time counter to said water 16. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a self-contained water spray chamber and a superposed air heater communicating with said chamber, a device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom thereof, means to cause air to pass successively through said chamber and through said air heater, means to direct said air towards the bottom of said chamber and then towards the top of said chamber whereby the air moves at one time with the water spray and at the other time counter to said water spray, and means for automatically controlling the humidity of said air.

17. An air conditioning apparatus comprising 'a self-contained water spray chamber and a superposed air heater communicating with said chamber, a device for spraying water into said chamber towards the bottom 

